Field Talk: A Monitor Farm Scotland Podcast
Welcome to Field Talk, the Monitor Farm Scotland Podcast. Each episode will follow one of the nine farms chosen to take part in the four-year programme. The Monitor Farm Scotland programme is farmer led and farmer driven, with support from specialists and experts to assess farm performance, explore opportunities, and develop solutions to the challenges farmers face. Our host, Wallace Currie, will speak with farmers about what they've been implementing on their farms, sharing both their successes and the challenges they've faced. We’ll also bring in industry experts to dive deep into key topics and offer valuable insights.
Field Talk: A Monitor Farm Scotland Podcast
Series 2 Episode 3: Selecting for the Future – Using genetics and genomics for replacement suitability and lifetime profitability
In this episode of Field Talk, the Monitor Farm Scotland podcast, Wallace, Lauren Porteus (Zoetis), and Chris Barclay (Stabiliser Cattle Company) discuss the integration of genetics and genomics in livestock farming, particularly focusing on heifer selection within the Monitor Farm programme. They explore the challenges and benefits of transitioning from traditional phenotype assessments to genomic data, the importance of cost management in suckler cow farming, and key learnings from the project that aim to enhance profitability and efficiency in farming practices. This conversation delves into the advancements in cattle breeding through genomic testing, focusing on the importance of tissue sampling over traditional hair sampling, the collaborative efforts among farmers, and the future potential of genomic technology in improving livestock traits.
The discussion highlights the significance of the breeding process and the ongoing monitoring of genetic progress to enhance cattle performance and profitability.